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Bosch Starts Li-Ion Battery Laboratory Plant in Germany

Today Robert Bosch GmbH announces the start of a laboratory production line in Eisenach, Germany: In order to research materials and production processes for future generations of Lithium-Ion cells. Moreover,

STUTTGART, Germany – Today Robert Bosch GmbH announces the start of a laboratory production line in Eisenach, Germany: “In order to research materials and production processes for future generations of Lithium-Ion cells.” Moreover, the company which is also manufacturing e-bike drive systems, is preparing the set-up of a distribution network for these products.

Bosch’ entire move is seen as: “Complement to the shared activities with SB LiMotive” (a Li-Ion battery joint-venture of Bosch and Samsung on which this trade journal reported earlier).

According to a press release, Bosch plans the laboratory production facility in Eisenach to produce the first samples for tryout purposes in 2012. The company is to expand the production to an annual production volume of more than 200,000 cells by 2015.

For this project Bosch joins forces with BASF on the materials side and with ThyssenKrupp System Engineering for process plant engineering. That Bosch is giving this project some very serious attention is underlined by its statement that the company will gradually increase the size of the project team to roughly 80 people. They will work to develop materials for anodes, cathodes, and electrolytes, and also examine their interactions. The knowledge they gain will be directly used for new manufacturing processes.